Kowloon Tong: A Low-density Neighbourhood
In the opinion of many Hong Kong residents, particularly parents, Kowloon Tong is truly an upper-middle class neighbourhood with reputable primary school net 41 and a wide selection of elite local and international schools in the area. But this is not the only reason the district has made a name for itself in the residential market; the area accounts for the majority of low-density townhouses and detached houses in Kowloon, with many situated around Waterloo Road, offering extremely spacious living spaces.
One look at Kowloon Tong's street names will likely reveal people's names, which have then been translated into Chinese from the English pronunciation, like Somerset Road, Essex Crescent and Oxford Road. The naming dates to the city's colonial past when British officials and merchants aimed to build British-style houses on the already leveled land of Kowloon Tong that has now become a community with low-density housing.
In general, properties in Kowloon Tong can further be classified based on area.
“More sizable houses are located to the east of Waterloo Road (Waterloo East) near Oxford Road, La Salle Road and Lancashire Road have seen quite a few townhouses with areas over 5,000 square feet,” said Kennie Ng, sales manager of United Properties Limited. “The reason is that Waterloo East has a plot ratio of 1.8, whereas its western counterpart, such as York Road, Kent Road and Stafford Road, has a plot ratio of only about 0.6. The gross floor area for each lot may be smaller compared with that in Waterloo East, but it also means lower density and more prestigious given the higher per-square-foot prices. In terms of views, one may consider luxury housing above Cornwall Street, such as Mount Beacon and One Beacon Hill.”
It's not hard to imagine that only the super rich can afford to live in Kowloon Tong; according to Ng, the rentals of some houses can start at HK$200,000 per month. Whether the MTR station is easily accessible to properties in the area seem irrelevant to the residents living there as most properties are another mini bus ride away. However, having said that, Kowloon
Tong is geographically the centre point of the city, enjoying easy access to several main roads. In addition to low-density dwellings, the district also provides smalland medium-sized apartment units, which are popular choices among the middle class who are more concerned about the district's transportation network, school net and facilities offered.
According to squarefoot.com.hk, Kowloon Tong had an average per-square-foot price of HK$17,995 in September, an 11% increase from the previous month. The upcoming development project in the area is Ayton on 18 Invermess Road. Modern residences include Eden Gate, One Mayfair and Meridian Hill, and older private estates include Beverly Villa, Lannox Gardens and Sunderland Estate. It's worth noting that the string of elite schools in Kowloon Tong has brought in buyers and renters from different areas of Hong Kong. Thus, homeowners in the district are generally optimistic about the market's prospects and are usually in no rush to sell their homes, giving them a big advantage in their investment.